My boyfriend and I will be traveling throughout Europe from July - October. We're on a student's budget but planning to stay in cheap hotels rather than hostels as we're a couple. We would love some advice on Italy, I have a few things in mind but having really never traveled before, we'd love to know if anyone has stumbled across any gems!

Here is our criteria!

[*] We won't be able to get a hire car as we're 18 and 19 years old so it will have to be bus/train/plane.

[*] We aren't big on cities that are extremely touristy, we'd prefer to see the Italian's Italy!

[*] If at all possible we'd like to stay below $40 per person per night or thereabouts

I recommend going to Bologna and then taking a train east or west from there to the wonderful small cities in Bologna's province, Emilia Romagna.

If you take the train east from Bologna, stop in Imola, Faenza, Cesena, Forli, and end up in Rimini. If you go west you can visit Modena, Reggio Emilia, and Parma........then go down to lovely Lucca. All wonderful and not mobbed with tourists.